"It's getting worse. When Labour was elected, less than one in 10 patients waited longer than six hours to be seen at an emergency department. Now, nearly one in four wait longer than six hours."
Yes Andrew, it is a crisis. You have made it worse.
"Dr Sandy Richardson, the former chair of the College of Emergency Nurses, said the situation is now dangerous."
I must admit to feeling sad then a little pissed off yesty.
Sad to hear of the plight of a wee 4 yr old and his parents being failed by our health system. ( In no way is this a criticism of the front line workers.)
Then pissed off hearing Reti and Dr Doolittle squabble in the house.
Decades of underfunding, and DHB governance overseen by accountant types worshipping the $ and serving the budgets.
Kiddies dying and Robertson is proud of his surplus….
The problem for Andrew is, it has got so much worse under his (and David Clark's) watch over the last 5 years. You cant keep blaming "9 years of neglect". You may as well blame the Muldoon govt back in the seventies!
Well before the virus, when the previous govt deliberately ran down the health system, you mean? Sure was. Takes many years to turn it around. Now health workforce is in demand all over the world and a dangerous job.
in the last four decades our population has doubled, health costs have blown out hugely(go into an operating theatre(p.n. hospital has ten) and figure out how much all the gizmo's cost, you wont be anywhere near correct). all meds have ballooned in costs, all western countries are short staffed medically. fun fact, the asthma inhaler that costs me $5 because the gov subsidizes it costs $100 u.s. in the u.s.. the health system is a black hole that swallows up as much money as you can throw in it. getting rid of the different health boards is a big forward step, but NO government will EVER keep ahead of the problem. the english voted for brexit fooled by the lie that the money saved would bail out their health system. hows that working out????
"You cant keep blaming "9 years of neglect". You may as well blame the Muldoon govt back in the seventies!" Jimmy
As the old joke goes:
“George Washington is the only US president who didn’t blame the previous administration for all his difficulties”
Considering that this administration is the first administration to have full control of the house since the introduction of MMP. This administration can't trot out the "handbrake" excuse.
Writing in 2020 before the last election, Bernard Hicky proves presentiment in laying out this adminstration’s chosen trajectory:
A painful handbrake? Or a perfect alibi?
Bernard Hicky, August 26 2020
….Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will have to decide soon whether she wants the second term of her Labour-led coalition to be about policy reform or simply about managing the status quo, and whether she is confident enough in Labour's popularity to propose 'transformational' policies….
She will have to decide if she is a true Labour reformer, or just a manager of the status quo, MMP-style. ….
Wednesday's confirmation that New Zealand First has blocked Labour's preference for a NZ Superannuation-led 'Public Public Partnership' to build a $6 billion transformational rail-led redevelopment of the Auckland isthmus is just the latest of a series of handbrake turns.
They include: commercial rent relief for smaller retailers; a vehicle feebate scheme to encourage new electric car purchases; 90-day trials for new employees for smaller businesses; welfare reform; benefits for jobless migrants; blocking visa variations to allow out-of-work migrants to switch employers; delaying a second round of gun reforms; blocking reforms to sexual violence law reforms; stopping cameras from being rolled out on fishing boats; stopping farming's inclusion in the emissions trading scheme; tougher water quality rules; and reform of the 'three strikes' law reform.
That's not forgetting the ultimate handbrake on Labour's Capital Gains Tax reform,…
Will the new Maori Health Authority be the solution to the problem? Or is it just another bureaucratic restructuring combined with political virtue-signaling?
I suspect we will get more highly-paid officials sitting in Wellington as the hospital waiting lists grow longer, but only time will tell. Economist Brian Easton has described the government policy as a "redisorganisation."
Hunter Thompson 11. The answer to your first two questions: No and Yes.
We are already getting more highly paid officials sitting in Wellington and the hospital lists are growing longer by the day. Time is already telling us, Little and Labour think if they set up a new authority, ministry, whatever then this will magically translate into solutions. Brian Easton is right. But the worst part of all this is that our health system will deteriorate further and further.
But wait Jimmy………we have a brand new lovely Health Authority that is going to bring health equity to all! Andrew Little to the rescue! As health professionals leave the sinking ship, the shiny new NZ Health (with their drag Queen kaoreke evenings because they are so inclusive) are in a meeting right now to discuss…….god knows what, but I hear NZ Health is in absolute chaos.
And probably Mr Little will bring health equity to all NZders, because the lack of health staff will mean we all get equally bad health options eg longer wait times across all ED in the country.
So, what are you doing to save the health system? Are you still wearing masks so you don't pass covid-19 around? Are you still cleaning your hands before entering and leaving any new location?
Hospitals are under stress because covid-19 hasn't magically gone away, in fact we are at the start of another upswing.
There is not a lot money can do at the moment because we can't magic up a medical workforce and facilities to deal with the extra peaks in sickness due to covid-19. The only way to deal with it is to do all you can not to get covid-19 and not to spread covid-19.
But people are happy to make it someone else's problem because caring for the welfare of others, by even the simplest of strategies, is too hard.
The workforce is part of the solution, and all the minister can come up with is … getting more migrants
Howzabout offering complimentary training and support payments to those we need in the health workforce. Maori and P.I. Stay on for 2/3/5 years and you owe nothing.
Here in Palmy, we have a high Bhutanese population. These migrant's children don't see a way for them to upskill to nursing because the cost is a barrier
We can't wait 3-5 years time when college kids leaving school this term get through a nursing program and are competent enough to work. Or in 20 years when immigrant kids starting school now get through a medical degree and are competent doctors.
Covid has nothing to do with the pay parity negotiations dragging on.
Covid is a weak cop-out excuse for systemic, ideological underfunding of our health services.
If the answer was to get migrants to do the job, it would have been solved 3 or 4 administrations ago. Plus where are these people going to live? We haven't sorted out the infrastructure needed for the last 10 years of the migration tap being left on.
Let's get these local people started training now so in 3-5 years Tu Whatu Ora has a staff worthy of it's name.
But unlike Truss, Luxon et al will cut govt spending, not fund the tax cuts through borrowing. So your billboard AB would be a little misleading.
TOP in my opinion has the best tax policy. Tax cuts starting at the bottoms so the first 15 k are not taxed. And then a tax on land (which is very hard to avoid paying tax on)
Probably most people don't want tax cuts, but I wouldn't put any store on the Stuff poll……it would be unwise to do so.
drowsy, I have heard, both Act and National say the cuts won't apply to health education or police.
I did hear Nicola W say they will go through Govt provided services with a fine tooth comb and if they don't provide good outcomes they will be cut. This imo is good. People providing services with govt money should be accountable. Having been around this area I can tell you there are a lot of services that only serve the providers. I think Willis said they would boost what works, but don't quote me on this.
“Christopher Luxon’s refusal to say if he would pay nurses more, means nurses face a real term pay cut under a National Government, while the richest few benefit the most,” says Marama Davidson.
I did hear Nicola W say they will go through Govt provided services with a fine tooth comb and if they don't provide good outcomes they will be cut.
Hmm – there have been reports that our publicly-funded health services aren't providing good outcomes for some Kiwis. I do hope that these services won't be cut if NAct get their way – still, maybe Seymour will give me a voucher.
"Luxonomics = Trussonomics, Stick it on a billboard"…come election time some of those might well make an appearance on some local political billboards…not put there by me of course!
I just want the tax brackets adjusted for inflation. Paying 30% on earnings over $48k is ridiculous. Raise the brackets but bring in another rate of say 45% for high earners.
Me too. Self balancing within the rates to start then having a look at how much extra those over say $180,000 are to pay, as suggested by Jimmy. Or should that be over $296,000pa that small amount earned by Wayne Brump, sorry Wayne Trown no sorry Wayne Brown of Auckland?
Me too. Robertsons refusal to do this in a sustained period of rampant inflation and his continual criticism of National for wanting to index tax brackets to inflation is just insane.
As I have said before, in my opinion, National also should have changed these brackets at least in their last 3 year term as government back in 2015,2016.
There was an article on stuff 2 days ago(just looked can't find it again)
The jist of it was thus ,due to benifit abatement rates ,any benefit to low income earners by a tax free bracket is gobbled up by said abatement rates. Leading to only the wealthy benefiting from a tax free bracket.
Yes IMO they need to change the benefit abatement rate as it discourages people trying to earn more and get ahead (as well as adjust the tax brackets for inflation).
"…But Newshub understands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern deliberately toned down her criticism to avoid upsetting the regime and jeopardising the release of the two Kiwis…"
Well what that story tells me: there is one response for the rich and famous and another for the rest of us. That does not mean to say NZ officials wouldn't bother to rescue us poor folk, but maybe not with the same level of determination?
Mind you the rest of us wouldn't be so stupid as to go there in the first place given the Foreign Office has warned NZers to stay away from Iran since 2020.
"…there is one response for the rich and famous and another for the rest of us…"
I don't agree – you are asking to prove a negative.
I mean, you go off and be a completely unhinged fucking arsehole like Martyn Bradbury – a man blinded by an irrational hatred of anyone on a higher income than him, which is basically anyone with a job that isn't minimum wage – with that assertion but I would contend that any pair of young NZer's would get exactly the same level of concern from MFAT (not the foreign office, that is the poms) & the government.
And we shouldn't concern ourselves with the blame game until they are safely out of Iran, after all being idiots should not be a crime punishable by indefinite incarceration in some Iranian black hole.
Yes. I should have said MFAT. Been watching too much British news of late.
You are the one going off on some unhinged rant.
Of course MFAT would look to ensure the safety of anyone who found themselves in dangerous territory. But I stand by my impression that the more wealth and influence you have, the greater the chance your request for assistance will be swiftly expedited by officialdom. It seems high level activity has been occurring for months now and it has worked. The pair are out of Iran safe and well.
They will have to answer the question… what the hell were they doing there given there has been two years of official warnings not to go to Iran.
I saw a clip of the story on TV1 just now, and although Jacinda Ardern was being very diplomatic (as always) I had the feeling she's not happy with them. The young travellers came across to me as two spoilt, selfish young people who didn't give a thought to the trouble they cause other people from their own actions.
Perhaps this experience will be a good lesson for them.
It aimed to encourage students to speak more “inclusively” and not fall foul of those who may be offended by sex-specific pronouns. But the University of Cambridge’s decision to say Auf Wiedersehen to teaching gendered German has prompted warnings from linguists that students risk making a fool of themselves when talking with native speakers.
Undergraduates paying £9,250 a year have been urged to use “inclusive language” and “to use gender- and non-binary-inclusive language when we address or refer to students and colleagues, both in writing and in speech in English and in German”.
Course managers said they encouraged students and staff to choose newer forms with plural nouns.
When writing, they may render feminine nouns unisex by inserting an asterisk before the suffix — a nonstandard usage known as the “gender star”.
They noted that “in extended German texts grammatical structures can inhibit inclusivity . . . relative and other pronouns, for example, are obligatorily marked for grammatical gender, so going gender-free is difficult to achieve”.
Das Mensch – used to denote uppity women with ideas
Die Menschen – The Humans – Humankind
'der' (masculine) Mensch – The Human.
In saying that "Mensch" is also a term for a human with empathy, heart and soul.
As in 'Das ist ein mensch', or 'Der ist ein mensch'. The first is neutral, the second is masculine, die ist ein mensch – feminin. Die sind Menschen – plural.
Maybe the guys need to study German again.
But the German language, and many other languages are sexed or gendered, but then, its all just mind fuckery now and up is down, black is white and ain't the sky a lovely shade of green.
Someone needs a job on the grievance and horribly marginalised minority train or something and this is a way of doing it for i guess some useless academics that find working in the private industry to hard. Also with children being unable to learn how to read it might make sense dumbing down language to emoticons and txt wrtng.
die Macht and die Kraft is plural rather then feminine. Die is for die…Die die Macht haven – those that have power, die die Kraft haben – those that have force.
Or you could say – Er hat die kraft – He has the force, or – Er hat die Macht – he has the power. Er – him, you could replace this with Sie – her, or even with Das.
To de-sex the german language would be to destroy it, but then, maybe that is the expected/desired outcome. If you want to destroy a culture and destroy belonging to a group you destroy their language first. Hence why in NZ you currently have a revival of Te Reo.
Four years of high school Deutsch and still occasionally remember the neutered articles for nouns, but fast disappearing…
It seems a particularly weird explanation for an institution like Cambridge University to give for not actually teaching students the language they were enrolled to learn.
Universities are creating de-sexed gender ideologists of tomorrow. We all have no longer a sex, but we get to choose a meaningless identity instead. Our bodies will be the farms of tomorrow. We are all dairy cows now.
And the Transcult is still out there shouting about how marginalised and victimised they are – while demanding that we change the very language we use to describe our own bodies.
Here is a very good overview at China today..from Defense Politics Asia, who also happen to do the best and without doubt the most neutral/unbiased daily coverage of the Ukraine conflict……
Waiheke marina security guard convicted of assaulting protester
A security consultant has been convicted of assaulting a protester at the Kennedy Point Marina construction site on July 7, 2021.
Construction of the marina on Waiheke Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf is opposed by a group known as Protect Pūtiki. The group's members – who call themselves protectors because they see their role as kaitiaki, or guardians of the area – have been protesting at the marina for years, saying mana whenua were not adequately consulted and kororā, little blue penguins, could be harmed by the construction.
Note the policeman and photographer are more interested in the real boss of No 10. He’s always there for the big moments to make sure people know who really runs the show.
I got an email from one of our suppliers yesterday warning of the future shortage of eggs in NZ due to the phasing out and then illegalising of battery hens/laying farms by the end of this year. This will then be followed by colony hens in 2027. It is called the 'Layer Hens Code of Welfare'.
Personally i am not a great fan of battery hens and their eggs, but i understand that for many on low income or benefits these types of eggs are often the only protein they get as they don't buy meat.
The suppliers forsees shortages of eggs essentially due to a. the shut down of these factories, b. the shortage of grains coming into NZ to be used as feed.
I really don't want to sound like Kassandra, but i would suggest that people buckle up as prices for pretty much anything containing eggs will go trough the roof, as i will expect bakeries to shut next as dairy, butter and now eggs are too expensive to create a product that can still be retailed at an affordable price.
I don't actually care that some will be able to afford imported food in the future. There will always be rich people or those with the good connection that will afford food even if the rest of the population eats grass – north korea and such places come to mind.
This affects our local food production, and as bad as battery farming is (i am not unhappy seeing it go, my father in law adopts battery hens and has a bout 60 of them) for some cheap food is the only food they can afford, and those that can afford imported food can also afford organic and thus legal eggs.
I also doubt that many people are aware of the changes coming.
I would have thought it obvious that the imported battery farming eggs (Oz still allows this) would be cheaper than that produced locally, just as the imported pork is.
I'll repost my original comment more slowly this time.
<blockquote>
If there is no ban on importing eggs from nations with a lower standard in animal care, it will just result in imports (as with pork).
</blockquote>
You had noted a consequence of the policy change, without apparently realising there was the option of using imports. Those using eggs (say bakeries) and with customers sensitive to price will seek to do this and so might supermarkets (if one does then they gain customers, so all do).
again, slowly for you as you don't seem to understand.
Why are we outsourcing pollution and animal abuse to different countries? As the purported welfare of the animals that is the reason we are banning it for and probably the pollution that comes with it? And why are we ok with flying or shipping in eggs from battery hens, when we find the practice so horrendous that we make these eggs illegal under the Layer Hens Code of Welfare'
It is hypocritical to say the least. Oh, look we so virtuous and so green that we outlaw the abuse of hens and the resulting pollution that comes from it here in loverly NZ, but we are happy to import the product of these practices that we so abhor from elsewhere like OZ?
Oh but you ok with that.
And lastly, are you gendering me? Are you sexing me? Kindly abstain from that shit. You might actually get it wrong and then that would make your last comment offensive as fuck. 🙂 Misgendering is actual violence, don't forget that.
We should encourage, by whatever means possible our local growers to step up to rearing poultry in best for birds conditions. perhaps ,,,,(whispers) subsidies or low cost loans for growers.
I have not seen Chinese grown pork in my local supermarket for ages and actively avoided when it was on the shelves. The price differential between locally grown and imported was not of a magnitude to encourage me to turn to Chinese produced.
The Chinese pig herd got culled because of disease. The price of pork is currently the leading cause of their food inflation (ahead of fruit and veg because of drought).
Why? A ban on importing eggs might mean shortages. And to limit the price inflation resulting from the decline in supply.
The higher bird poultry livestock management standards result in higher priced eggs – the evidence is in the cartons in front of every shopper. It's because they do not get the same production, lower supply.
The cage folk will move onto barn eggs so the supply will not collapse. But it will be higher priced. That will impact bakeries and others using ingredients – unless they supply cage eggs from offshore (maybe OZ, though they sometimes have shortages).
From 2027 there will be no barn eggs, rinse and repeat.
I believe that with the continuation of the special military operation, it becomes more and more urgent to carry out the de-Satanization of Ukraine, or, as the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov aptly put it , its “complete de-Satanization”
One of the most eye-catching appointments was the return of Suella Braverman as home secretary.
She resigned just days ago from the role after a security breach, when she sent a government document to someone not authorised to receive it.
She endorsed Mr Sunak to be the new leader two days ago, a move seen as a massive boost for his campaign as it represented support from the right-wing of the party.
Some sources in government speculate that endorsement may well have been an ask for something in return. There was a hint of that in her article for the Daily Telegraph backing Mr Sunak – where she said we will "only stop boats crossing the Channel" if the UK passes new laws to limit the impact of Modern Slavery laws, the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Such a move would be controversial, and face legal and political challenges – especially in the House of Lords. But is her appointment a signal Mr Sunak has agreed it is the way forward? It looks likely.
Former No 10 pollster James Johnson tweeted that the tougher approach on immigration provides an opening for the Tories among swing voters in so-called Red Wall seats.
Ms Braverman was a key figure in the ERG – the group of pro-Brexit Tory MPs
"Suella Braverman's reappointment is the most eye-catching," says Sir Craig.
"There's a lot he is going to be doing that the right of the party will be uncomfortable with – for example around the budget and economy.
"So this [signal of a harder line on immigration] means he can point to something that really goes down well with the more traditional wings of MPs and party members."
But her appointment may make it harder to make the argument, as Mr Sunak did earlier, that this would be a government of "integrity" – given her recent breach.
Ms Braverman was the architect of the policy to send refugees to Rwanda during processing, to return people to where they came in breach of the refugee convention, has been accused of planning an ever harsher policy to reduce migration and seeking to ban people crossing the channel from claiming asylum.
Meet Grant Shapps, the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In a previous life he ran spammed an internet get rich quick scam.
Complete with bogus testimonials.
Going under the name Michael Green and casting himself as an internet marketing guru, Shapps in 2007 claimed audiences could "make $20,000 in 20 days guaranteed or your money back" – if they spent $200 buying his bespoke software.
Shapps previously told journalists he used the name Michael Green for the business to keep it separate from his political work.
Have you ever come across Corinne Stockheath of Surrey? Or Dr JLM Richards of the Wallerson Trust in Dallas, Texas? Or Richard Warton of Tektriox in New York?
Please let me know if you have, as I’m having great trouble finding them. And, as you may have seen on Channel 4 News last night, the Conservative Chairman Grant Shapps doesn’t seem very keen to help me find them.
But Mr Shapps insists they do all exist, and are genuine people. All three names provided glowing testimonials for an online guide on How To Write a Newsletter which Mr Shapps sold in the days he called himself Michael Green.
Here we go. Saint Jacinda good. Luxon bad. I don't give money to the homeless on the street for a variety of reasons. I suggest you do likewise. It can be dangerous. I wonder if leftwing media will have a field day tonight? I wonder if Auckland Grammar will get a mention?
Luxon should be disgusted and dismayed that we have charity's for kids and food banks in this country, nothing says political failure more in my opinion.
Damn it! Just listened to the Luxon delivery leading the General Debate. He is reading less from a script and delivering a thread with fluency and confidence. Gone is the bumbling ninny of the past. And ditto for his stand up interviews. I do not think he is truthful but to an unsuspecting audience he is credible. Trouble I think.
But dig a bit deeper than just the delivery, ianmac. He didn't actually say anything, just slagged off the government with some repeated clichés. Still no policy, other than negativity.
It's almost like he's saying: 'trust me and trust my government to make things better,' but offering no ideas.
Yes, but the intellectually and morally bereft like X Socialist will still be impressed by, "empty, inconsequential and shallow", because it is spoke by a man who ran an airline.
Lack of content agreed. The delivery is my worry because he has learned to talk with just notes and appears confident. Most people just remember the delivery and little of the content. For example ask people what they remember about a speech just given, and most remember zilch.
But it is all so NEGATIVE. He only talks about reversing what Labour has done.
And before anybody mentions the wonderful "social investment" this was always just a trite phrase, empty words. Bill English never actually did anything to implement this fantasy policy and I am sure Luxons lot won't either
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Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
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"… And thus we return to the perpetual paradox of power: only people who want it seek it. But it should never be given to people who want it."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130270773/reminded-that-power-should-never-be-given-to-those-who-want-it
“What can the people do about it? Nothing much. Only sigh, laugh, shake their heads and go to market, just as they’ve always done.”
"It's getting worse. When Labour was elected, less than one in 10 patients waited longer than six hours to be seen at an emergency department. Now, nearly one in four wait longer than six hours."
Yes Andrew, it is a crisis. You have made it worse.
"Dr Sandy Richardson, the former chair of the College of Emergency Nurses, said the situation is now dangerous."
Little 'doing lots of things' as new figures reveal one in four waiting longer than six hours to be treated at ED (msn.com)
I must admit to feeling sad then a little pissed off yesty.
Sad to hear of the plight of a wee 4 yr old and his parents being failed by our health system. ( In no way is this a criticism of the front line workers.)
Then pissed off hearing Reti and Dr Doolittle squabble in the house.
Decades of underfunding, and DHB governance overseen by accountant types worshipping the $ and serving the budgets.
Kiddies dying and Robertson is proud of his surplus….
The problem for Andrew is, it has got so much worse under his (and David Clark's) watch over the last 5 years. You cant keep blaming "9 years of neglect". You may as well blame the Muldoon govt back in the seventies!
Almost as if we have had a once in a century public health emergency over the last 5 years..
C'mon Sacha, get real, this has been going on well before Te Virus.
In fact the impending virus provided a much needed break from the regular under-staffed over-worked norm.
Well before the virus, when the previous govt deliberately ran down the health system, you mean? Sure was. Takes many years to turn it around. Now health workforce is in demand all over the world and a dangerous job.
Try putting yr red pom poms down for a moment and consider the backwards slide our system has gone through in the last 4 decades.
in the last four decades our population has doubled, health costs have blown out hugely(go into an operating theatre(p.n. hospital has ten) and figure out how much all the gizmo's cost, you wont be anywhere near correct). all meds have ballooned in costs, all western countries are short staffed medically. fun fact, the asthma inhaler that costs me $5 because the gov subsidizes it costs $100 u.s. in the u.s.. the health system is a black hole that swallows up as much money as you can throw in it. getting rid of the different health boards is a big forward step, but NO government will EVER keep ahead of the problem. the english voted for brexit fooled by the lie that the money saved would bail out their health system. hows that working out????
Muldoon may be a stretch but every government since then has adhered to this neo-liberal experiment.
Ryall, Clark, Hodgson, King,Coleman Creech, none can hold their heads high.
Muldoon was our last socialist PM.
'
"You cant keep blaming "9 years of neglect". You may as well blame the Muldoon govt back in the seventies!" Jimmy
As the old joke goes:
“George Washington is the only US president who didn’t blame the previous administration for all his difficulties”
Considering that this administration is the first administration to have full control of the house since the introduction of MMP. This administration can't trot out the "handbrake" excuse.
Writing in 2020 before the last election, Bernard Hicky proves presentiment in laying out this adminstration’s chosen trajectory:
The perfect excuse for not implementing 'transformational policy' is gone, So what is Labour's alibi for managing the (neoliberal) status quo, now?
'It's the last lots fault’?.
Will the new Maori Health Authority be the solution to the problem? Or is it just another bureaucratic restructuring combined with political virtue-signaling?
I suspect we will get more highly-paid officials sitting in Wellington as the hospital waiting lists grow longer, but only time will tell. Economist Brian Easton has described the government policy as a "redisorganisation."
Hunter Thompson 11. The answer to your first two questions: No and Yes.
We are already getting more highly paid officials sitting in Wellington and the hospital lists are growing longer by the day. Time is already telling us, Little and Labour think if they set up a new authority, ministry, whatever then this will magically translate into solutions. Brian Easton is right. But the worst part of all this is that our health system will deteriorate further and further.
Only has to solve one problem. Let's not ignore the rest of the system.
But wait Jimmy………we have a brand new lovely Health Authority that is going to bring health equity to all! Andrew Little to the rescue! As health professionals leave the sinking ship, the shiny new NZ Health (with their drag Queen kaoreke evenings because they are so inclusive) are in a meeting right now to discuss…….god knows what, but I hear NZ Health is in absolute chaos.
And probably Mr Little will bring health equity to all NZders, because the lack of health staff will mean we all get equally bad health options eg longer wait times across all ED in the country.
So, what are you doing to save the health system? Are you still wearing masks so you don't pass covid-19 around? Are you still cleaning your hands before entering and leaving any new location?
Hospitals are under stress because covid-19 hasn't magically gone away, in fact we are at the start of another upswing.
https://tinyurl.com/2p8yvae5 (Financial Times data)
There is not a lot money can do at the moment because we can't magic up a medical workforce and facilities to deal with the extra peaks in sickness due to covid-19. The only way to deal with it is to do all you can not to get covid-19 and not to spread covid-19.
But people are happy to make it someone else's problem because caring for the welfare of others, by even the simplest of strategies, is too hard.
The workforce is part of the solution, and all the minister can come up with is … getting more migrants
Howzabout offering complimentary training and support payments to those we need in the health workforce. Maori and P.I. Stay on for 2/3/5 years and you owe nothing.
Here in Palmy, we have a high Bhutanese population. These migrant's children don't see a way for them to upskill to nursing because the cost is a barrier
The problem is now because covid-19 is now.
We can't wait 3-5 years time when college kids leaving school this term get through a nursing program and are competent enough to work. Or in 20 years when immigrant kids starting school now get through a medical degree and are competent doctors.
"The problem is now because covid-19 is now."
Covid has nothing to do with mental health patients suiciding in our local hospital.
Covid has nothing to do nurses going on strike.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/477036/nurses-at-three-private-hospitals-strike-over-pay-conditions
Covid has nothing to do with the pay parity negotiations dragging on.
Covid is a weak cop-out excuse for systemic, ideological underfunding of our health services.
If the answer was to get migrants to do the job, it would have been solved 3 or 4 administrations ago. Plus where are these people going to live? We haven't sorted out the infrastructure needed for the last 10 years of the migration tap being left on.
Let's get these local people started training now so in 3-5 years Tu Whatu Ora has a staff worthy of it's name.
Mental health is a huge issue and there’s a lot of room for a lot of improvement but it is not all doom & gloom.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/477355/suspected-suicides-rates-continue-to-drop-but-maori-still-disproportionately-affected
This is fun. 82% reject National's tax cuts!
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/10/have-your-say-do-you-want-tax-cuts.html
Of course these polls are meaningless. In the past they've been rigged by the Right, and an official complaint to the Media Council was upheld:
https://www.mediacouncil.org.nz/rulings/jenny-kirk-against-mediaworks-newshub/
Perhaps this one was rigged by the Left. Cool. The people have spoken!
Luxonomics = Trussonomics
Stick it on a billboard.
But unlike Truss, Luxon et al will cut govt spending, not fund the tax cuts through borrowing. So your billboard AB would be a little misleading.
TOP in my opinion has the best tax policy. Tax cuts starting at the bottoms so the first 15 k are not taxed. And then a tax on land (which is very hard to avoid paying tax on)
Probably most people don't want tax cuts, but I wouldn't put any store on the Stuff poll……it would be unwise to do so.
Will taxpayer-funded public health & education services be affected by these cuts?
drowsy, I have heard, both Act and National say the cuts won't apply to health education or police.
I did hear Nicola W say they will go through Govt provided services with a fine tooth comb and if they don't provide good outcomes they will be cut. This imo is good. People providing services with govt money should be accountable. Having been around this area I can tell you there are a lot of services that only serve the providers. I think Willis said they would boost what works, but don't quote me on this.
https://www.greens.org.nz/nurses_could_face_pay_cut_under_national
A pox on both their houses!
Although I would want to hear it from National re their own policy rather than a maybe from the Greens.
That Policy doesn’t exist yet and Willis and Luxon are at odds about it, funnily enough.
https://etu.nz/health-workers-to-national-dont-cut-our-funding/
Feel free to close your eyes & ears but don’t expect others to do the same.
Hmm – there have been reports that our publicly-funded health services aren't providing good outcomes for some Kiwis. I do hope that these services won't be cut if NAct get their way – still, maybe Seymour will give me a voucher.
"Luxonomics = Trussonomics, Stick it on a billboard"…come election time some of those might well make an appearance on some local political billboards…not put there by me of course!
I just want the tax brackets adjusted for inflation. Paying 30% on earnings over $48k is ridiculous. Raise the brackets but bring in another rate of say 45% for high earners.
Me too. Self balancing within the rates to start then having a look at how much extra those over say $180,000 are to pay, as suggested by Jimmy. Or should that be over $296,000pa that small amount earned by Wayne Brump, sorry Wayne Trown no sorry Wayne Brown of Auckland?
Me too. Robertsons refusal to do this in a sustained period of rampant inflation and his continual criticism of National for wanting to index tax brackets to inflation is just insane.
As I have said before, in my opinion, National also should have changed these brackets at least in their last 3 year term as government back in 2015,2016.
There was an article on stuff 2 days ago(just looked can't find it again)
The jist of it was thus ,due to benifit abatement rates ,any benefit to low income earners by a tax free bracket is gobbled up by said abatement rates. Leading to only the wealthy benefiting from a tax free bracket.
The house always wins I tell ya
May have been this one?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130237814/why-do-we-tax-the-first-14000-of-income
Yip thankyou. Of course single no kids people on low incomes would benefit ,but best we don't mention these forgotten ones!!
Yes IMO they need to change the benefit abatement rate as it discourages people trying to earn more and get ahead (as well as adjust the tax brackets for inflation).
Tax cuts … even the Australian Labour Party get it!
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/budget-2022-aussies-cash-boost-004522644.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFrzfNm_0nnhkixMvtMpadEpTgS6XQg5LROkOaDQameVsX9rXSRaRdsc7gFlVL6LDceW8USkadZqsdxQSln1OnDQzrVIjdP9WnBwbXo5Ffyehx1DufnhU18Uk1MQeJeyf2rjNPzKN0qdeCcgjH67jtme5yJuy44cQLFqfWjNWZR5
A few apologies to the PM in order, I would think.
"…But Newshub understands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern deliberately toned down her criticism to avoid upsetting the regime and jeopardising the release of the two Kiwis…"
Well what that story tells me: there is one response for the rich and famous and another for the rest of us. That does not mean to say NZ officials wouldn't bother to rescue us poor folk, but maybe not with the same level of determination?
Mind you the rest of us wouldn't be so stupid as to go there in the first place given the Foreign Office has warned NZers to stay away from Iran since 2020.
"…there is one response for the rich and famous and another for the rest of us…"
I don't agree – you are asking to prove a negative.
I mean, you go off and be a completely unhinged fucking arsehole like Martyn Bradbury – a man blinded by an irrational hatred of anyone on a higher income than him, which is basically anyone with a job that isn't minimum wage – with that assertion but I would contend that any pair of young NZer's would get exactly the same level of concern from MFAT (not the foreign office, that is the poms) & the government.
And we shouldn't concern ourselves with the blame game until they are safely out of Iran, after all being idiots should not be a crime punishable by indefinite incarceration in some Iranian black hole.
Yes. I should have said MFAT. Been watching too much British news of late.
You are the one going off on some unhinged rant.
Of course MFAT would look to ensure the safety of anyone who found themselves in dangerous territory. But I stand by my impression that the more wealth and influence you have, the greater the chance your request for assistance will be swiftly expedited by officialdom. It seems high level activity has been occurring for months now and it has worked. The pair are out of Iran safe and well.
They will have to answer the question… what the hell were they doing there given there has been two years of official warnings not to go to Iran.
My apologies, I wanted to say "…you COULD go off…" perils of posting on the bus. One word lol.
Apology accepted.
I saw a clip of the story on TV1 just now, and although Jacinda Ardern was being very diplomatic (as always) I had the feeling she's not happy with them. The young travellers came across to me as two spoilt, selfish young people who didn't give a thought to the trouble they cause other people from their own actions.
Perhaps this experience will be a good lesson for them.
Higher education? Cambridge seizes zeitgeist with gender-neutral German
The german language already have a neutral
das – singular
die – plural.
Das Mensch – used to denote uppity women with ideas
Die Menschen – The Humans – Humankind
'der' (masculine) Mensch – The Human.
In saying that "Mensch" is also a term for a human with empathy, heart and soul.
As in 'Das ist ein mensch', or 'Der ist ein mensch'. The first is neutral, the second is masculine, die ist ein mensch – feminin. Die sind Menschen – plural.
Maybe the guys need to study German again.
But the German language, and many other languages are sexed or gendered, but then, its all just mind fuckery now and up is down, black is white and ain't the sky a lovely shade of green.
Someone needs a job on the grievance and horribly marginalised minority train or something and this is a way of doing it for i guess some useless academics that find working in the private industry to hard. Also with children being unable to learn how to read it might make sense dumbing down language to emoticons and txt wrtng.
I always liked that in German the nouns for two forms of power (die Kraft, die Macht) are both feminine.
die Macht and die Kraft is plural rather then feminine. Die is for die…Die die Macht haven – those that have power, die die Kraft haben – those that have force.
Or you could say – Er hat die kraft – He has the force, or – Er hat die Macht – he has the power. Er – him, you could replace this with Sie – her, or even with Das.
To de-sex the german language would be to destroy it, but then, maybe that is the expected/desired outcome. If you want to destroy a culture and destroy belonging to a group you destroy their language first. Hence why in NZ you currently have a revival of Te Reo.
History does not repeat, it rhymes.
Four years of high school Deutsch and still occasionally remember the neutered articles for nouns, but fast disappearing…
It seems a particularly weird explanation for an institution like Cambridge University to give for not actually teaching students the language they were enrolled to learn.
Universities are creating de-sexed gender ideologists of tomorrow. We all have no longer a sex, but we get to choose a meaningless identity instead. Our bodies will be the farms of tomorrow. We are all dairy cows now.
And the Transcult is still out there shouting about how marginalised and victimised they are – while demanding that we change the very language we use to describe our own bodies.
You can't oppress something that don't exist.
We want a divorce!
[image resized]
Lol Sabine. Love it. Great points
Here is a very good overview at China today..from Defense Politics Asia, who also happen to do the best and without doubt the most neutral/unbiased daily coverage of the Ukraine conflict……
Some justice for Protect Pūtiki:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300717547/waiheke-marina-security-guard-convicted-of-assaulting-protester
Note the policeman and photographer are more interested in the real boss of No 10. He’s always there for the big moments to make sure people know who really runs the show.
Can't quite make him out, who is it, Cummings? William?
Larry the cat is the boss of 10 Downing st, appearing at all stand-ups while at night chasing away foxes single cattedly.
I got an email from one of our suppliers yesterday warning of the future shortage of eggs in NZ due to the phasing out and then illegalising of battery hens/laying farms by the end of this year. This will then be followed by colony hens in 2027. It is called the 'Layer Hens Code of Welfare'.
Personally i am not a great fan of battery hens and their eggs, but i understand that for many on low income or benefits these types of eggs are often the only protein they get as they don't buy meat.
The suppliers forsees shortages of eggs essentially due to a. the shut down of these factories, b. the shortage of grains coming into NZ to be used as feed.
I really don't want to sound like Kassandra, but i would suggest that people buckle up as prices for pretty much anything containing eggs will go trough the roof, as i will expect bakeries to shut next as dairy, butter and now eggs are too expensive to create a product that can still be retailed at an affordable price.
So if you can have some chucks get some.
If there is no ban on importing eggs from nations with a lower standard in animal care, it will just result in imports (as with pork).
Communities (supply to foodbanks and schools) and neighbourhoods should consider “green banking”.
I don't actually care that some will be able to afford imported food in the future. There will always be rich people or those with the good connection that will afford food even if the rest of the population eats grass – north korea and such places come to mind.
This affects our local food production, and as bad as battery farming is (i am not unhappy seeing it go, my father in law adopts battery hens and has a bout 60 of them) for some cheap food is the only food they can afford, and those that can afford imported food can also afford organic and thus legal eggs.
I also doubt that many people are aware of the changes coming.
I would have thought it obvious that the imported battery farming eggs (Oz still allows this) would be cheaper than that produced locally, just as the imported pork is.
So you suggest that we outsource our animal abuse and pollution and still hope to get it cheaper then locally produced.
Oh boy.
I'll repost my original comment more slowly this time.
<blockquote>
If there is no ban on importing eggs from nations with a lower standard in animal care, it will just result in imports (as with pork).
</blockquote>
You had noted a consequence of the policy change, without apparently realising there was the option of using imports. Those using eggs (say bakeries) and with customers sensitive to price will seek to do this and so might supermarkets (if one does then they gain customers, so all do).
But you do you girl.
again, slowly for you as you don't seem to understand.
Why are we outsourcing pollution and animal abuse to different countries? As the purported welfare of the animals that is the reason we are banning it for and probably the pollution that comes with it? And why are we ok with flying or shipping in eggs from battery hens, when we find the practice so horrendous that we make these eggs illegal under the Layer Hens Code of Welfare'
It is hypocritical to say the least. Oh, look we so virtuous and so green that we outlaw the abuse of hens and the resulting pollution that comes from it here in loverly NZ, but we are happy to import the product of these practices that we so abhor from elsewhere like OZ?
Oh but you ok with that.
And lastly, are you gendering me? Are you sexing me? Kindly abstain from that shit. You might actually get it wrong and then that would make your last comment offensive as fuck. 🙂 Misgendering is actual violence, don't forget that.
Guess what "sabine", "I" do not write government policy,
I do know that we have pig farming standards and import pork from nations that do not have them.
The same disconnect is likely to occur with poultry, thus your fears about pricing of much higher prices for eggs may not occur.
But you do you.
As to my opinion,
1. we have temporarily suspended an impost on petrol to reduce inflation.
2. we can introduce domestic standards and allow cheap imports, for a time, for the same reason.
If all you want to do is warn that government policy is causing inflation, or that it might not, because of some hypocrisy, so be it.
Yes but why would we want to do this? crazy.
We should encourage, by whatever means possible our local growers to step up to rearing poultry in best for birds conditions. perhaps ,,,,(whispers) subsidies or low cost loans for growers.
I have not seen Chinese grown pork in my local supermarket for ages and actively avoided when it was on the shelves. The price differential between locally grown and imported was not of a magnitude to encourage me to turn to Chinese produced.
The Chinese pig herd got culled because of disease. The price of pork is currently the leading cause of their food inflation (ahead of fruit and veg because of drought).
Why? A ban on importing eggs might mean shortages. And to limit the price inflation resulting from the decline in supply.
The higher bird poultry livestock management standards result in higher priced eggs – the evidence is in the cartons in front of every shopper. It's because they do not get the same production, lower supply.
The cage folk will move onto barn eggs so the supply will not collapse. But it will be higher priced. That will impact bakeries and others using ingredients – unless they supply cage eggs from offshore (maybe OZ, though they sometimes have shortages).
From 2027 there will be no barn eggs, rinse and repeat.
No paper towels for the last week in my closest supermarket.
Wayne Brown has been watered down.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/130276092/watercare-reassures-mayor-on-costs-from-doing-three-waters-work
You what???
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/477326/boys-school-cancels-wife-beater-wednesday-at-11th-hour
Just an official of the Security Council of the Russian Federation calling for the de-satanisation of Ukraine.
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I believe that with the continuation of the special military operation, it becomes more and more urgent to carry out the de-Satanization of Ukraine, or, as the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov aptly put it , its “complete de-Satanization”
https://aif.ru/society/religion/chto_varyat_v_vedminom_kotle_na_ukraine_nabrali_silu_neoyazycheskie_kulty
google translate
Truss tomatoes ripen for longer on the vine and kept in a bowl with their stem continue to ripen and so are good for throwing during dewali.
https://twitter.com/devisridhar/status/1584482495738761216
https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/1584980561939951628
https://twitter.com/gem_abbott/status/1584981243464396800
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63394099
Ms Braverman was the architect of the policy to send refugees to Rwanda during processing, to return people to where they came in breach of the refugee convention, has been accused of planning an ever harsher policy to reduce migration and seeking to ban people crossing the channel from claiming asylum.
Meet Grant Shapps, the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In a previous life he
ranspammed an internet get rich quick scam.Complete with bogus testimonials.
Going under the name Michael Green and casting himself as an internet marketing guru, Shapps in 2007 claimed audiences could "make $20,000 in 20 days guaranteed or your money back" – if they spent $200 buying his bespoke software.
Shapps previously told journalists he used the name Michael Green for the business to keep it separate from his political work.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/sep/02/grant-shapps-google-howtocorp-adsense
https://searchengineland.com/uk-conservative-party-chair-founded-google-spamming-business-132087
Have you ever come across Corinne Stockheath of Surrey? Or Dr JLM Richards of the Wallerson Trust in Dallas, Texas? Or Richard Warton of Tektriox in New York?
Please let me know if you have, as I’m having great trouble finding them. And, as you may have seen on Channel 4 News last night, the Conservative Chairman Grant Shapps doesn’t seem very keen to help me find them.
But Mr Shapps insists they do all exist, and are genuine people. All three names provided glowing testimonials for an online guide on How To Write a Newsletter which Mr Shapps sold in the days he called himself Michael Green.
https://www.channel4.com/news/by/michael-crick/blogs/grant-shapps-and-the-mysterious-testimonials
Here we go. Saint Jacinda good. Luxon bad. I don't give money to the homeless on the street for a variety of reasons. I suggest you do likewise. It can be dangerous. I wonder if leftwing media will have a field day tonight? I wonder if Auckland Grammar will get a mention?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/10/christopher-luxon-says-he-supports-organisations-rather-than-giving-money-to-homeless-after-pm-spotted-giving-cash-to-person-in-need.html
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-grammar-threatens-to-withhold-end-of-year-reports-if-parents-dont-pay-fees/K3C6C57FRUWYXCRV3AYSYI5E2I/
Luxon should be disgusted and dismayed that we have charity's for kids and food banks in this country, nothing says political failure more in my opinion.
Damn it! Just listened to the Luxon delivery leading the General Debate. He is reading less from a script and delivering a thread with fluency and confidence. Gone is the bumbling ninny of the past. And ditto for his stand up interviews. I do not think he is truthful but to an unsuspecting audience he is credible. Trouble I think.
https://ondemand.parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?itemId=229089
But dig a bit deeper than just the delivery, ianmac. He didn't actually say anything, just slagged off the government with some repeated clichés. Still no policy, other than negativity.
It's almost like he's saying: 'trust me and trust my government to make things better,' but offering no ideas.
Empty, inconsequential and shallow – as always.
Yes, but the intellectually and morally bereft like X Socialist will still be impressed by, "empty, inconsequential and shallow", because it is spoke by a man who ran an airline.
Lack of content agreed. The delivery is my worry because he has learned to talk with just notes and appears confident. Most people just remember the delivery and little of the content. For example ask people what they remember about a speech just given, and most remember zilch.
But it is all so NEGATIVE. He only talks about reversing what Labour has done.
And before anybody mentions the wonderful "social investment" this was always just a trite phrase, empty words. Bill English never actually did anything to implement this fantasy policy and I am sure Luxons lot won't either